With winter in full swing, it’s vital that your home feels warm and cosy. However, heating and cooling generally account for the largest share of home utility costs. Admittedly, no homeowner wants to waste away their finances on draughty windows and poorly insulated attics. Finding ways to counteract the high heating costs in winter is a smart move. Fortunately, you can cut your residential heating expenses with these tips.
- Optimise Heat Retention and Thermostat Efficiency
Every degree you reduce your thermostat’s temperature saves you about 2-3% on your total bill. You can manually regulate the thermostat or install a programmable device that can auto-control the temperature to reduce your heating bills. A smart thermostat can let you easily control the temperature from your phone. As a tip, consider keeping your home’s temperature to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit while awake and at home, and keep it even lower at night or when away. It would help if you don’t expose your thermostat to direct sunlight, which can lead to overheating and incorrect readings. That said, even with efficient temperature control, heat loss through a poorly insulated home—especially through the roof—can make it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Checking for drafts, sealing gaps, and considering Affordable roof replacements if your roof is outdated or damaged can all help in keeping warmth inside. Further, maximize efficiency by using a zoning heating system that supports heating in only occupied rooms while minimizing temperature in unused spaces.
- Maintain your boiler
Inefficient, old, and malfunctioning gas boilers can increase your home heating costs. Getting a certified gas engineer to maintain yours can benefit your energy savings. This way, you can prolong your boiler’s life while reducing your expenses. You should repair your gas boiler when you detect a problem. Likewise, replacing your existing boiler with a condensing new gas boiler can let you save up to 25% on your heating bills. A-grade boilers are more efficient as they can convert 90% of the energy into heat, so keep this in mind. Investing in a high-efficiency residential boiler can further optimize your home’s heating performance while cutting down on energy waste. Regular maintenance and timely upgrades ensure your residential boiler operates safely and efficiently, keeping your heating costs under control.
- Insulate water pipes
Properly insulating water pipes can prevent freezing and benefit energy savings. Uninsulated water pipes create heat losses when the water leaves the heater. That said, you may want to insulate the lines with a foam pipe to get the best results. DIYing this task is pretty easy; use pre-split foam tubing to cover exposed pipes in the basement and garage and secure them with tape. Also, prioritize insulating water pipes closer to the heater since they experience the greatest temperature. Finally, make sure the materials are snug but not overly compact, as it decreases thermal efficiency.
- Close curtains and blinds around the windows
A lot of heat transfer takes place through the windows in your home. You can reduce energy loss by closing your curtains and blinds as soon as dusk approaches. This will retain more heat in the interior so that warming the home back to the required temperature in the morning will use less energy. Use twisted cling film to seal any gaps around the windows and a thin plastic sheet to push it in. This sticky material will stay in place to stop drafts coming from windows. The good news is removing it is easy in the spring, so feel free to this.